Football: ‘Referees mulling Chelsea boycott’

Chelsea alleges Mark Clattenburg made racist remarks in Sunday's game with United.

LONDON: Several English Premier League referees are debating over whether to boycott matches involving Chelsea in wake of the club alleging Mark Clattenburg made racist remarks in last Sunday’s game with Manchester United, according to former referee Clive Wilkes.

Wilkes told The Sun newspaper he had been in touch with some of his former colleagues and they had told him they were considering boycotting Chelsea games — especially as in their eyes it is not the first time the club has levelled accusations at one of their number.

“Remember, it’s not the first time Chelsea have targeted a referee — there’s been Anders Frisk and Graham Poll,” said Wilkes. “And some refs are now saying enough is enough. It’s no exaggeration to say the refs in this country have never felt lower.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2012.